Washing machine apparatus



y 1944- F. VQCHANEY 2,345,450

WASHING MACHINE APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1941 Z6 1 I INVENTOR 6/ firm/w war/7 A Patented May 9, 1944 umrso STATES PATENThOF FICE- f V 2,348,450 y Franklin v. Chaney, New York, N. Y., assignor to R. Ann Chaney, Savannah, Ga.

Application June 26, 1941, Serial N... scares '1 Claims. (01. 68- 184) My invention relates tn 8. new and improved washing machine apparatus.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a washing machine by means of which is produced successive currents of the washin liquid in alternate direction, said successive currents being produced in directly adjacent layers of the washing liquid, so that the articles which are being washed, are vigorously agitated and subjected to a continuous shaking and flexing and squeezing action. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby the articles are washed without unduly tangling the respective articles with each other, and without winding up the respective articles in the form of a tangled mass.

Another object of the'invention is to prevent the formation of a whirlpool of washing liquid, in the bottom portion of the washing tub.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby successive and oppositely subjected to a plurality of gentle rubbing and squeezing actions. A

- illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended generally to specify the main features thereof,

directed currents of liquid are alternately moved I substantially upwardly and downwardly in the superposed washing sections of the washing zone. The current of liquid which is provided inv the lower section of the washing zone, below a vertically reciprocating agitator, may be designated as the primary current. The current of liquid in the upper section, which is produced between said agitator and a superposed deflector, may be designated as the secondary current. These currents of liquid are moved laterally relative to the central vertical axis of the tub, and the laterally outwardly directed component of the secondary current of liquid prevents any whirlpool formation of the primary current, thus vigorously agitating the articles which are being washed, while practically eliminating the tangling of these articles with each other. I Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism whereby the successive currents of liquid are substantially equal and opposite in the washing zone, as distinguished from the old type of machine in which impulses are imparted to the liquid, which are much greater in one direction than in the opposite direction. This old type produced a steady unidirectional flow of the washing liquid and of the articles, which I desire to avoid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine whereby the articles are moved in short and jerky movements throughout the tub, said movements being zlg-zag in the washing zone, and whereby the articles are successively but without limitation.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partially in elevation, of a washing machine which embodies the invention.

Fig.2 is a bottom plan View of the spider which is connected to the bottom open end of the deflector.

Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional view of a secon embodiment of the invention. 1

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of theplanar bottom plate of the agitator.

Fig. 1 shows the tub IU of the washing machine. While this may be of any shape, it is preferred that the vertical wall of said tub be substantially cylindrical, although the bottom part of said vertical wall may be downwardly tapered, as shown in Fig. 1. The major part of the bottom wall of said tub is of planar shape, and

tator is of concavo-convex shape, with its eonvex wall iacingupwardly. Said plate I8 is made of rigid metal or any other suitable material, so that the shape of said plate It does not change substantially, during the operation of said agitator. A disk l9, which is made of rubher or any other suitable resilient and flexible material, is clamped to the annular planar flange oi the plate It, by means of a bottom clamping plate Isa, which is made of metal. or

c any other suitable rigid material. The clamping plate "a is connected to the plate l8 by rivets or other suitable fastening means. The

1 flexible disc I9 preferably has a circular periphcry, and the common vertical central axis of the flexible disc l9, and of the rigid plates l8 and 19a, preferably coincides with the vertical central axis of the tub III. The flexible disc 18 When the plate I8 and its associated plate I9a are moved downwardly in unison, said projecting resilient flange of the disc I9 bends slightly, so that said flange of the disc I9 becomes slightly dish-shaped, with its concave wall facing upwardly. When said plate I8 and its plate I9a are moved upwardly in unison, the curvature of said projecting annular flange of the disc I9 is equally and oppositely reversed, thus producing a dish shape whose concave wall faces downwardly. The opposite flexures of said annular flange of the disc I9 are preferably equal and opposite during alternate movements of the agitator which is provided with the plate I8.

The invention is not limited to the contour of the elements I8 and I9a, which are respectively shown in Fig. 1, although I prefer that the member I8 should have a top convex wall. The member I8 may be perfectly flat and planar, like the member I9a.

A deflector I3 is immovably located above the agitator. This deflector I3 preferably has a flared shape and its wall is of uniform thickness throughout, and its inner wall is of the same contour as its outer wall. The top of the deflector I3 preferably extends at all times above the top of the washing liquid which is located in the tub I0. When the agitator is stationary, the top level of this liquid is indicated by the reference numeral I1.

A spider I6 is connected to the open mouth of the deflector I3. This spider I6 may have any desired number of arms, and said arms may be made extremely narrow, if desired, so as to obstruct as little as possible of the mouth of the deflector I3. The tips of the arms of the spider .IG are inwardly bent, as at I5, to clamp respective portions of the mouth of the deflector I3.

Vertical rods I4 are connected respectively to the arms ot-the spider I6. These arms of the spider I6 are preferably associated in pairs, and

each pair of said arms preferably has an arched shape, as shownin Fig. 1. The reduced bottom and through suitable perforations which are provided in the bottom wall of the tub. Saidrods l4 type, to the shaft of an electric motor. This speed-reducing mechanism is not shown, because it is conventional.

The housing 32 is provided with a bottom cap 33 which closes said housing 32 at the bottom thereof, and said cap 33 is detachably connected to the housing 32, in any convenient manner. The inner wall of the head 26 is threaded, and a nut 26a is connected to said inner wall of the head 26. Said nut 26a has a bore which provides a guide for the vertical reciprocating movement of the rod. 20.

Fig. 1 illustrates the median position of the rod 20 and of the agitator. When the shaft 29 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the agitator is successively moved up and down, from the median position which is illustrated in Fig. l.

The total height of-the vertical stroke of the agitator is approximately 1.5 to 2 inches, so that the agitator is moved upwardly through a stroke of 0.75 inch to 1 inch from the median position shown in Fig. 1, then back to said median position, then downwardly from said median position through a vertical distance of 0.75 inch to 1 inch, and then back to said median position.

When .the agitator is in its top position, the vertical distance between the edge of the rim of the deflector I3, and the periphery of the plate I8, is approximately 0.5 inch to 0.75 inch. When the agitator is in said median position, the vertlcal distance between the plate I9a and the upper face of the bottom wall of the tub is about 1.5 to 2 inches. Hence, if the stroke of the agitator, above and below said median position, is 0.75 inch, the vertical distance between the edge of the rim of the fixed deflector I3 and the I planar rim of the plate I 8, is 1.25 inches when the agitator is in said median position. Since the a vertical. distance between the plate I 9a and the bottom wall of the tub is then 1.5 inches, the effective distance between the agitator and the fixed-shield is less than the effective distance be tween the agitator and the bottom wall of the tub, in said median position. If the stroke of the agitator, above and below said median position, is. one inch, the effective distance between the agitator and the rim of the fixed deflector is 1.75 1 inches in said median position, and the distance 1 1 tips of the arms H extend througha plate Ila? have heads Mb which abut the top surface of the] plate Ila. A suitable gasket, made of rubber or the like, is located between the plate Ida and the wall of the tub. The reduced bottom tips'oij the rods I4 also extend through suitable bores which are provided in the top flange of the head 1 2B of the housing 32. Nuts I lc are mounted upon threaded portions or the reduced bottom tips'of therespective rods I4. By turning these'nuts" Me, the gasket is compressed, thus providing a water-tight Joint. The plate I8 is provided with of the resilient projecting annular flange of the an integral and downwardly extending boss 25,

' 32, where said rod 20 is connected by a pivot pin 21 to a link 30, which is pivotally connected at 28 to a suitable rotor 3I, which is fixed to a driven shaft 29. The shaft 29 is connected, by suitable speed-reducing means of conventional between the agitator-and the tub is then two inches. If the fixed shield or deflector I3 had its rim located a substantial distance above the agitator, then the current which would be produced by said fixed deflector would not nullify the whirl- 1 pool which is created at' the bottom of the tub by the downward movement of the agitator.

. When specific figures or details are stated herein, are stated by it is to be understood that they way of example, and not as a limitation;

In a practicalfworking embodiment, the diameter of the plate I9a is 7 inches, and the width disc I9 is approximately 1.25 inches. The horizontal diameter-of the mouth of the hollow deflector I3 is approximately 7 inches, and this is substantially equal to the horizontal diameter of the arched portion of the plate I8. In said practical embodiment, the inner diameter of the vertical wall of the tub I0 is approximately 24 inches and the total height of the deflector I3 is about 12 inches.

The deflector I3 is imperforate, so that it provides an air chamber which is open at its bottom,

with the exception of the slight obstruction which is provided by the spider. As previously stated, the arms of this spider may be made very narrow,

in order to provide minimum obstruction. The shaft 29 is given about 500 complete rotations per minute.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the agitator is moved from its median position to the top of its vertical reciprocating stroke, the air in the deflector I3 is compressed. During this upward movement of the agitator, the washing liquid is given an upward impulse in the upper section or the washing zone, between the agitator and the fixed deflector, and said washing liquid in said zone flows upwardly and also laterally outwardly, as indicated by the arrows 2| and 23. During said upward movement of the agitator, the washing liquid flows laterally inwardly and also downwardly between the upwardly moving plate IBa and the inner face of the bottom wall of the tub, as indicated by the arrows 22 and 24. Thespace between the bottom of the plate Na and the fixed bottom wall of the tub, is the second section of the washing zone.

When the agitator moves downwardly from its top position, the water which is located between the plate Na and the inner face of the bottom wall of the tub is moved laterally outwardly as indicated by the direction of the head of the 4 arrow of the line 35. During said downward movement of the agitator from its top position, the water flows downwardly and also laterally inwardly, between the mouth of the deflector l3 and the plate Hi. The general direction of flow of the washing liquid, while the agitator moves downwardly from its top position to its bottom position, is indicated by the curved line 35 of Fig. 1.

The direction of the flow of the washing liquid between the plate l8 and the mouth or the deflector I3 is therefore always substantiall opposite to the direction of the flow of the washing liquid between the plate Illa and the inner face of the bottom wall of the tub. Likewise, the directlon of flow of the washing liquid between the mouth of the deflector l3 and the plate 18 is rapidly reversed, due to the rapid vertical reciprocation of the agitator. The rotation of the shaft 29 may be at a greater rate than 500 revolu- V tions per minute, if desired, although this is When sufllcient for practical workin purposes. the upper layer of washing liquid, between the plate i8 and the mouth of the deflector I3 is moving upwardly and laterally outwardly, the lower layer of the washing liquid (between the plate lea and the inner face or the bottom wall of the tub) is moving downwardly and laterally inwardly. The successive equal and opposite changes in curvature of the resilient flange of the disc 19, produce a very rapid pulsating movement of the water and it also provides a scrubbing action for gently squeezing and rubbing the articles which are being washed.

The articles are also subjected to a rubbing and squeezing action between the edge of the annular bottom wall of the deflector and the projecting resilient flange of disc I9 and the outer part 01 plate Mia. The articles do not move laterally inwardl beyond the successive positions which are indicated by the curved line 35. That, is, the articles move just under the edge of the bottom wall of the deflector, but not laterally closer to the central vertical axis of the deflector, which coincides with the common central vertical axis of the tub and of members I8, I91; and IS.

The wall of the deflector i3 is rigid so that the shape or position of said wall does not change cent the bottom of the tub, so that the aYticles do not become twisted and entangled with each other at the bottom of the tub, thus providing for quicker, more reliable action. The bottom of the rim of the deflector may be covered by a member R which is made of compressible material such as rubber.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the plate l4a is provided with a standard 36 whose lower part is hollow, and said lower part is provided with a transverse through-and-through bore 44. This post 38 has a shoulder 39 on which the arms l6 of the spider are supported. In thisembodiment, the spider I 6 may be omitted if desired.

The post 36 has a reduced top portion 38 which,

extends through the top of the wall of the deflector l3, and said portion 38 is provided with an enlarged rivet-like head 31, which tightly clamps the top of the deflector [3 to the top of the post 36. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the vertically reciprocating rod or plunger 20 is provided with a transverse slot, through which the pin 42 extends. Said pin 42 has a drive fit in said transverse slot of the plunger 20, or said pin 42 is otherwise suitably rigidly fixed to the plunger 20. The pin 42 is located in the enlargements of straps 45, which are suitably rigidly connected to the bottom plate 4|, which corresponds to the plate lea of Fig. l. The operation of the embodiment of Fig. 3 is identical with that of Fig. 1.

After an article has been squeezed between plate 19a and the projecting flange of disc l9, and th bottom wall of the tub, said article moves upwardly in intermittent jerky movements which are zig-zag with reference to a vertical line. The article is moved above the mouth of deflector 13 in said movements, and it then moves laterally inwardly towards deflector l3, and downwardly along a line which is indicated by line 35. The simultaneous and laterally opposed movements of the washing liquid in the respective sections ofthe washing zone prevent the article from tangling or rolling into ball or rope shape. If a number of articles are washed, these articles do A quicker and better action is thus secured.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

When I specify an up-and-down movement of the agitator, I do not limit the same to an absolutely vertical movement.

While I prefer to move the agitator up-anddown, while the center of the agitator coincides with the vertical axis of the body of washing liquid, the invention is not limited thereto.

1 claim:

1. A washing machine comprising a tub which has a closed bottom wall, an lmmovably fixed fluid-directing deflector located in said tub above said bottom wall, an agitator mounted for upand-down movement between said deflector and said bottom wall, said agitator having a rigid central portion and a' resilient fin which projects laterally outwardly from said central portion and which extends laterally outwardly beyond the edge of said deflector, said fln having a shape which is sufilciently fiat to cause said fin to flex 'has a closed bottom in respective opposite curvatures and substantially equally during the successive up-and-down movements of said agitator, and being so arranged relative to the tub and deflector that substantiaily equal and laterally opposite pulses are imparted to the liquid in said tubin the zone between the agitator and the deflector and in the zone between the agitator and said bottom wall.

2. A washing machine comprising a tub which wall, an immovably fixed fluid-directing deflector located in said tub above said bottom wall, said deflector having an edge,

an agitator mounted for up-and-down movement between said deflector and said bottom wall, said agitator having a "rigid central portion anda resilient fin which projects laterally outwardly from said central portion and which extends laterally outwardly beyond the fiector, said fin having a normal substantially fiat shape and flexing oppositely and substantially equally in opposite directions during the successive up-and-down movements of said agitator, so that substantially equal and laterally opposite pulses are imparted to the liquid in said tub, in the zone between the agitator and the deflector and in the zone between the agitator and said bottom wall, said central rigid top plate which is upwardly arched and a bottom plate which is substantially fiat.

3. A washing machine comprising a tub which has a fluid-directing deflector located in said tub above said bottom wall, said deflector having an edge,

an agitator mounted for up-and-down movement between said deflector and said bottom wall, said agitator having a rigid central portion and a resilient fin which projects laterally outwardly from said central portion and which extends laterally outwardly beyond the edge of said deflector, said fin having a normal substantially flat shape and flexingoppositely and substantially equally in opposite directions during the -successive 'up-anddown movements of said agitator, so that substantially equal and laterally opposite pulses are imparted to the liquid in said tub in the zone between the agitator and the deflector and in the zone between the agitator and said bottom 7 wall, said central portion comprising a rigid top plate which is upwardly arched and a bottom plate which is substantially flat, the edge or said top plate being substantially coincident with the edge of said bottom plate, the periphery of said bottom plate being substantially coincident to the periphery of the edge of the deflector.

4. A washing-machine which has a tubwhich has a closed fiector located in said tub above said bottom wall,

an agitatormounted for up-and-down movement portion comprising a closed bottom wall, an immovably fixed bottom wall, a fixed and rigid de-' edge of said debetween said deflector and the agitatorand in' the zone. between said bottom wall and said agitator.

5. A washing machine which has a tub which has a closed bottom wall, a fixed and rigid deflector located in said tub above said bottom wall, said defiectorhaving a rim, an agitator mounted for up-and-down movement between said fixed deflector and said bottom wall, said agitator having a flexible rim which is shaped to flex oppo-- sitely and substantially equally during consecutive opposite movements of said agitator so that opposed and substantially equal lateral pulses are imparted by said agitator to the liquid in said tub in the zone between said deflector and the agitator and in the zone between said bottom wall and said agitator, said deflector having a member which is made of compressible material and which covers the bottom of the rim of said deflector, mechanism for moving said agitator in a stroke of predetermined length, said agitator being sufiiciently close to said member in the top position of said agitator, to squeeze the clothes between said agitator and said member.

comprising a tub which fiector which has a rim, said deflector being fixed in said tub above said bottom wall,

- mounted for substantially vertical movement in a path of fixed length between said deflector and said bottom wall, said agitator having a rigid central portion and a resilient fin which projects laterally outwardly from said central portion and which extends laterally outwardly beyond said rim, said fin flexing oppositely during the successive vertical movements 01 saidagitator, the distance between said agitator and said rim in the top position of said agitator being less than the distance between said agitator and said bottom wall in the bottom position of saidagitator.

7. A washing machine according to claim 6, in which the distance between the rim of the deportion of said agitator which is is approximately 0.75 inch to one inchin the top position of said agitator, the height of the vertical stroke of the agitator being approximately 1.5 inches to 2 inches' FRANKLIN V. CHANEY.

an agitator I 

